Chapter 10
It was a cold Friday afternoon in Peach Creek. The frigid January air had returned with a vengeance two weeks after the start of the new year, having managed to snow for a couple of days. Consequently, the citizens of Peach Creek found themselves shoveling and de-icing their walkways and driveways.
In the Kanker-Lonergan house, the kitchen area was abuzz with activity. And well it should be, for this was the day of Lee's sixteenth birthday. Three-quarters of the Kanker women (Tabby, Marie and May) and Lindsay were using this time to bake a cake for Lee, as well as put the finishing touches on decorations and snacks. Due to Tabby's less-than-sterling culinary skills, Marie and May had enlisted Lindsay for help in baking the cake. Lindsay happily agreed.
Lindsay was currently standing by the oven, waiting for the cake to finish baking. Upon hearing the "ding" of the oven timer, Lindsay put on an oven mitt and proceeded to pull the cake out.
"It's finished!" Lindsay said with a smile.
"What a beautiful cake, Tiffany!" Tabby exclaimed. "You're a lifesaver!"
"Thanks, Ms. Kanker!" replied Lindsay. "I just hope Lee likes it!"
"Don't worry Tiff, Annalee loves chocolate!" Tabby told Lindsay. "And please, call me Tabby-you're practically family!"
May and Marie were currently arguing about who would do what in regards to the refreshments.
"Hey! I'm doing the fish sticks!" May yelled in her adenoidal voice.
"Then give me the squeeze-a-blob!" Marie yelled back.
"Girls, cut it out!" Tabby silenced her daughters. "May, you do the fish sticks and Marie, you check the homemade cola," after which May stuck her tongue out at Marie.
"You guys have your own cola?" asked an intrigued Lindsay.
"Yeah, it's really good!" May exclaimed excitedly. "We even came up with our own jingle for it. Hit it, Marie!"
Upon May's directive, Marie launched into a song about her family's recipe:
Come along, you belong
Feel the fizz of Kanker Cola!
It's the cola for making you proud
Take another sip and be one of the crowd
You belong with Kanker Cola!
Come along, you belong
Feel the fizz of Kanker Cola!
Get to the store and take all you can carry
We got the flavors
Orange, Grape and Cherry
You belong with Kanker Cola!
Marie finished the jingle, after which Tabby and May applauded.
"Annemarie, you could sing the phone book and it would sound like heaven!" a proud Tabby told her daughter.
"Thanks Mom," Marie replied. "Yo May, we gotta change into our party clothes!"
"Yikes, thanks for reminding me, Marie!" May said as she went with Marie to their bedroom.
After the girls departed, Tabby turned her attention to Lindsay.
"Tiffany, will you help me hang this banner up?" Tabby asked of Lindsay.
"Sure thing, Ms. Ka-I mean, Tabby!" Lindsay replied, taking note of Tabby's playful evil glare.
The banner was gold, with the words "Happy Birthday Annalee" written in green letters.
"You really think Lee will like this?" Lindsay asked nervously.
"Oh I'm sure she will!" Tabby said. "Lee doesn't like big parties, but her sisters wanted to do something nice for her! I think she deserves something special for all she's done for our family. This isn't so much a birthday party as it is an "Annalee Kanker Appreciation Day!"
"We're back!" May and Marie exclaimed in unison.
Marie was wearing a blue thin-strapped pleated dress, a black belt around her waist, with black stockings and brown knee-length high heeled boots. Around her neck was the "Annemarie" necklace that Double Dee had given her.
May was wearing a white pleated dress, with a black belt and silver high heels (a gift from Lindsay). Her hair, usually in ponytails, now hung in loose waves around her shoulders.
"You girls look lovely!" Tabby exclaimed proudly.
"Thanks, Mommy!" Tabby's two daughters replied gratefully.
"Thanks for the heels, Lindsay! I love them!" May told Lindsay as she happily danced pirouettes across the kitchen.
"You're welcome, May! They look great on you!" said Lindsay.
Just then, a knock came at the Kankers front door.
"Knock, Knock, the Eds are here!" Ed said cheerfully behind the door.
Marie and May excitedly ran to the door to greet their boyfriends.
Marie opened the door to find Ed and Double Dee. Double Dee was wearing a blue button down shirt, black slacks and black Oxford shoes. Ed was wearing a cotton shirt, with a striped clip-on necktie. His legs were covered by dark blue slacks and black work boots.
"Hiya boys!" May and Marie cooed sweetly.
"Hello, Marie!" Double Dee greeted his girlfriend. "I must say, you look truly lovely this evening!"
"Thanks, Oven Mitt! You're looking pretty handsome yourself, you sexy stud!" said Marie, after which she kissed Double Dee on the cheek.
"Hiya, Big Ed! You sure look handsome tonight!" May greeted her boyfriend, after which she gave him a hug, pressing her cheek to his chest.
"Hiya, Little May! You look so pretty with your hair curled like that!" an enthusiastic Ed said.
"You guys all ready for the party?" Tabby asked the boys, having just walked into the living room.
"You bet!" Ed replied enthusiastically.
"I'm afraid we have a little problem," Double Dee informed the Kanker women. "Eddy took it upon himself to inform all our friends that Lee was having a birthday party, so Rolf, Kevin, Jonny, Nazz, Jimmy and Sarah are on their way."
"Eddy did WHAT?!" Marie angrily remarked. "I oughta give that shrimp a piece of my fist!"
"Annemarie!" scolded Tabby, though she was also less than happy to hear extra people would be coming to her house. "I damn sure hope that they brought extra food!"
The two Eds, the Kanker women, and Lindsay made their final preparations before the rest of the Rethink Avenue cul-de-sac kids arrived.